Stock Markets Net Chng Stock Markets Net Chng S&P/ASX 200** NZX 50** -34.52 7,050.30 16.20 11,736.75
DJIA NIKKEI**
32,602.03 207.78 27,883.78 365.53
Nasdaq FTSE**
11,875.598 159.52 7,564.27 80.02
S&P 500 Hang Seng**
4,011.68 40.41 20,192.4 407.75
SPI 200 Fut STI**
7,110.00 39.00 3,262.54 7.00
SSEC** KOSPI**
3,240.06 -5.32 2,443.92 8.98
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Bonds Bonds
JP 10 YR Bond KR 10 YR Bond
0.302 0.002 3.287 0.006
AU 10 YR Bond US 10 YR Bond
3.327 0.029 3.5582 -0.01
NZ 10 YR Bond US 30 YR Bond
4.17 0 3.7703 -0.015
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Currencies
SGD US$ KRW US$
1.3297 0.0021 1,306.64 9.6
AUD US$ NZD US$
0.6678 -0.00305 0.6222 -0.0031
EUR US$ Yen US$
1.0838 -0.0005 132.65 1.79
THB US$ PHP US$
34.17 -0.07 54.34 -0.08
IDR US$ INR US$
15,060 -25 82.178 0.006
MYR US$ TWD US$
4.416 0.018 30.455 0.07
CNY US$ HKD US$
6.8866 0.0111 7.8498 0.0001
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Commodities
Spot Gold Silver (Lon)
1,967.9456 -5.7471 23.3781 0.1206
U.S. Gold Fut Brent Crude
1,965.50 -8 78.32 -0.33
Iron Ore CNY890.50 TRJCRB Index
8.50 - -
TOCOM Rubber JPY208.9 LME Copper
0.6 8,992.50 7
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** indicates closing price
All prices as of 18:23 GMT
EQUITIES GLOBAL - Global shares rose on Wednesday as the equity market took heart from greater stability in the banking sector, while Treasury yields reversed course and fell, even as uncertainty still lingered among bond investors over the economic outlook. The MSCI all-world country index , gauge of stocks across the globe, gained 0.90% and the pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 1.16%. For a full report, click on - - - -
NEW YORK - Wall Street indexes rose on Wednesday as worries about stress in the banking sector eased, with some upbeat earnings reports and rising expectations about the Federal Reserve pausing interest rate hikes boosting sentiment further. At 11:42 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 192.99 points, or 0.60%, at 32,587.24, the S&P 500 was up 38.38 points, or 0.97%, at 4,009.65, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 147.75 points, or 1.26%, at 11,863.83. For a full report, click on - - - -
LONDON - European shares rose on Wednesday supported by gains in banking stocks, including UBS, which rose after naming a new CEO, while a strong outlook from chipmaker Infineon aided the mood. The benchmark STOXX 600 index closed 1.3% higher. For a full report, click on - - - -
TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average ended at a near three-week high on Wednesday as investors snapped up stocks set to go ex-dividend this week and market heavyweight SoftBank Group jumped on Alibaba Group's split-up plans. The Nikkei index rose 1.33% to close at 27,883.78, its highest since March 10 and marking the biggest daily jump since March 22. For a full report, click on - - - -
SHANGHAI - Hong Kong stocks surged on Wednesday, boosted by a jump in Alibaba's shares following the internet giant's revamp and listing plan which fuelled optimism that Beijing's crackdown on the tech sector may be ending. The index heavyweight lifted the Hang Seng Tech Index by 2.5%, while also sending the Hang Seng benchmark up 2.1%. For a full report, click on - - - -
AUSTRALIA - Australian shares recovered lost ground from earlier in the session to finish higher on Wednesday, as a slowdown in February inflation growth strengthened the case for the central bank to pause its rate hike cycle next week. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended 0.2% higher at 7,050.3 points. The benchmark closed 1% higher on Tuesday. For a full report, click on - - - -
SEOUL - South Korean shares rose for a second consecutive day on Wednesday, led by automakers and battery manufacturers, although chipmakers' losses capped further gains on the benchmark index. The benchmark KOSPI ended up 8.98 points, or 0.37%, at 2,443.92, hitting its highest closing level since March 7. For a full report, click on - - - -
FOREIGN EXCHANGE NEW YORK - The dollar edged higher against most major peers on Wednesday, pausing its recent declines, and gained sharply against the yen, which was volatile as the end of the Japanese fiscal year approaches. The dollar index , which measures the currency against six rivals, was 0.07% higher on the day at 102.56, pulling away from the near seven-week low of 101.91 touched late last week. For a full report, click on - - - -
SHANGHAI - China's yuan eased against the dollar on Wednesday, weighed by a weakened official guidance fixing and higher corporate demand for the greenback, while investors await March manufacturing data due this week for more clues on economic recovery. In the spot market, the onshore yuan opened at 6.8760 per dollar and was changing hands at 6.8880 at midday, 125 pips weaker than the previous late session close. For a full report, click on - - - -
AUSTRALIA - The Australian dollar dipped on Wednesday after a downside surprise in monthly inflation data helped solidify bets on a pause in interest rates hikes next week, and perhaps an end to the entire 10-month tightening campaign. The Aussie eased back to $0.6692 , after bouncing almost 0.9% overnight and away from support around $0.6625. Major resistance lies at the 200-day moving average of $0.6754. For a full report, click on - - - -
SEOUL - The Korean won weakened on Wednesday, while the benchmark bond yield rose. The won ended onshore trade 0.30% lower at 1,302.7 per dollar. For a full report, click on - - - -
TREASURIES
NEW YORK - Treasury yields rose on Wednesday as investors continued to evaluate whether recent banking stresses will be contained and what tighter lending standards emanating from recent bank failures will mean for Federal Reserve policy. Benchmark 10-year yields rose 4 basis points to 3.606%. They are up from a six-month low of 3.285% reached on Friday, but remain below a 15-year high of 4.338% on Oct. 21. Two-year yields rose 7 basis points to 4.130%, up from a six-month low of 3.555% on Friday but below the almost 16-year high of 5.084% hit on March 8. For a full report, click on - - - -
LONDON - Euro zone government bond yields held steady on Wednesday, after two days of increases, as worries about the health of the global banking system continued to recede. Germany's 10-year bond yield , the benchmark for the euro zone, was last up 1 basis point (bp) at 2.30%. For a full report, click on - - - -
TOKYO - Japanese government bond yields fell on Wednesday, supported by strong outcome of an auction in the previous session and demand for futures, whose trade had turned thin towards the end of the fiscal year. The 40-year JGB yield fell 8.5 basis points (bps) to 1.415%, its lowest level since March 14. For a full report, click on COMMODITIES
GOLD Gold prices slipped on Wednesday as upbeat equities and a stronger dollar weighed, but declines in safe-haven bullion have been fairly contained so far, signalling lingering worries about the banking sector. Spot gold was trading 0.5% lower at $1,964.41 per ounce by 12:37 p.m. EDT (16:37 GMT). U.S. gold futures slipped 0.4% to $1,965.50. For a full report, click on - - - -
IRON ORE
Dalian iron ore futures extended their gains to a third session on Wednesday, underpinned by prospects of tighter supply of the steelmaking ingredient and optimism over steel demand in China. The most-traded May iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange ended daytime trade 1.5% higher at 890.50 yuan ($129.26) a tonne. For a full report, click on - - - -
BASE METALS
Copper prices rose in London on Wednesday, helped by easing concerns about the banking sector, before further growth was capped by the stronger dollar. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was up 0.2% at $8,992.5 a tonne by 1557 GMT. For a full report, click on - - - -
OIL
Oil ticked down on Wednesday in choppy trading as investors looked to pocket profits from two straight days of gains, and as markets debated supply tightness. Brent crude eased 32 cents, or 0.4%, to $78.33 a barrel at 12:39 p.m. ET (1639 GMT), while West Texas Intermediate U.S. crude fell 11 cents, or 0.1%, to $73.09. For a full report, click on - - - -
PALM OIL
Malaysian palm futures reversed early gains on Wednesday in anticipation of tightening production, although the rise was capped by a report highlighting the vegetable oil's fading premium against rival oils. The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 22 ringgit, or 0.6%, to 3,709 ringgit ($839.90) a tonne. For a full report, click on - - - -
RUBBER
Japanese rubber futures ended lower on Wednesday, extending losses for a second
session, as slower-than-expected China recovery and dipping prices made traders
reluctant to rejoin the market.
Osaka Exchange's rubber contract for September delivery , finished
1.7 yen, or 0.8%, lower at 208.3 yen ($1.58) per kg.
For a full report, click on - - - -
(Bengaluru Bureau; +91 80 6749 1130)
